President Donald Trump deleted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ from his Truth Social account Monday after facing widespread criticism from religious leaders and conservative supporters who called the post blasphemous.
The image showed Trump in flowing red and white robes, touching a sick person's forehead with light emanating from his hand and head. An American flag waved in the background as figures gazed upward in reverence. The post remained visible for more than 12 hours before its removal.
I thought it was me posing as a doctor. It had to do with the Red Cross. It's supposed to be me, as a doctor, healing people, and I do in fact heal people.
Donald Trump — Mercopress
The controversial post emerged during an unprecedented confrontation between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the ongoing war in Iran. Hours before sharing the image, Trump launched a scathing attack on the pontiff, who has been criticizing the US-Israeli military operation that began February 28.
Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.
Donald Trump — Mercopress
Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago and holding dual US-Peruvian citizenship, responded from the papal plane while beginning an 11-day African tour. The pontiff has been vocal in his opposition to what he calls Trump's threat to destroy "an entire civilization."
I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel. We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective. Too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way.
Pope Leo XIV — Mercopress
Conservative Christians, typically among Trump's strongest supporters, expressed outrage at the Jesus imagery. The backlash highlighted potential fractures in Trump's religious base at a time when some supporters are already questioning the Middle East conflict.
I don't know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy. He needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.
Megan Basham, conservative journalist — Bangkok Post
Trump has increasingly embraced messianic imagery since surviving an assassination attempt in July 2024. His spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain recently compared him to Jesus during an Easter White House event, noting how both were "betrayed and arrested and falsely accused."
The president also escalated his attacks on Pope Leo XIV, claiming the pontiff was elected solely because of his nationality and asserting that "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican." The US Conference of Catholic Bishops rejected these remarks as inappropriate attacks on the Holy Father.
The clash represents an extraordinary breakdown in relations between the White House and Vatican, with religious scholars noting how the controversy could further alienate Catholic voters already concerned about the Iran conflict's humanitarian toll.
France 24 frames this as a fact-checking story under their "Truth or Fake" segment, emphasizing the verification of Trump's controversial social media behavior. Their approach reflects European skepticism toward Trump's religious messaging and concern about US democratic norms, positioning the story as part of broader questions about presidential conduct and the blurring of political and religious authority.
Mercopress provides comprehensive coverage focusing on the diplomatic implications of the Trump-Pope clash, reflecting Latin American interest in Vatican politics given the region's Catholic majority. Their framing emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the confrontation and Pope Leo XIV's Chicago origins, highlighting how this affects US-Latin American relations and Catholic communities across the Americas.
Bangkok Post frames the story through the lens of religious sensitivities and political messaging, reflecting Asian media's focus on how American domestic controversies affect global perceptions of US leadership. Their coverage emphasizes the backlash from Trump's own supporters, suggesting concern about American political stability and its implications for international relations in the Asia-Pacific region.